Gavin Newsom Builds 100,000-Plus Donor Base as He Confronts Trump and Leads Proposition 50 Fight

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has recruited more than 100,000 new contributors in recent months — a surge that has energized supporters and drawn fresh national attention as he intensifies attacks on former President Donald Trump and champions Proposition 50, a high-stakes redistricting effort.

Fundraising Surge

Sources familiar with Newsom's political activity say the governor has added an unusually large list of small-dollar donors, and that more than half of those donors live outside California. Allies argue that a nationwide small-donor base gives Newsom an early advantage if he pursues a national campaign.

“It’s a massive list, and it’s not from 10 years ago. It’s current,”

said Garry South, a Democratic strategist in California who has worked for Newsom. “Even if there’s falloff, and there will be, he starts out with a nationwide fundraising base which none of these other candidates have.”

Hollywood Ties and Policy Moves

Supporters point to Newsom’s close ties with the entertainment industry as a key factor in his fundraising strength. Earlier this year, he doubled California’s film and television tax-incentive program to $750 million, a move allies say reinforced industry support even amid budget pressure.

At the same time, Newsom has taken visible policy stances that have drawn both praise and criticism. He led the push for Proposition 50, a measure to redraw California’s congressional districts that allies say counters GOP efforts sparked by moves in Texas. He also signed a law in October requiring online platforms to display warning labels about social media addiction and imposing tougher safety and compliance standards for artificial intelligence — a step that has frustrated some tech-sector donors.

Donor Reactions and Political Calculus

Donors and allies describe a mix of enthusiasm and caution. Some view Newsom as the most aggressive national voice against Trump and credit his actions on Proposition 50 as decisive leadership. Others warn that his profile could energize opponents or that his style may not be sustainable over a long national campaign.

“Never mind what he’s done for the industry… he’s really the only one aggressively punching back. And not only punching back but going on offense,”

a Southern California donor said. Another donor warned some Republicans prefer Newsom as a general-election opponent, arguing he embodies “everything that people in the United States hate about California and hate about politicians.”

Timing, Polling and Next Steps

Newsom has publicly acknowledged he is contemplating a 2028 presidential bid. When asked on CBS News Sunday Morning whether he would consider a run after the 2026 midterms, he said, “Yeah, I’d be lying otherwise.” Allies say he would likely delay any formal announcement until after leaving the governor’s office in January 2027.

Recent polling suggests his standing in California has improved: a Public Policy Institute of California survey showed Newsom’s favorability rising from 46% in June to 56% this month, a gain allies attribute in part to his role in the redistricting fight. His email list also proved effective for quick fundraising: the campaign said it had met its goals for Proposition 50 and advised supporters they could stop donating a week before the election.

National Democratic donors say Newsom has become an early focal point in 2028 conversations. Some praise his combative strategy toward Trump; others question whether that approach — described by one donor as that of a “speed horse” — is sustainable through a full presidential campaign.